It is my pleasure, and believe that I am privileged to be the First Lady Director at the National Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NCAS). NCAS, being the only government owned Institute, established by the NCAS Ordinance No. 02 of 2005, under the vested powers of the Sub Section (1) of the Section 24A of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 for the purpose of providing, promoting and developing higher education through Advanced Research and Studies, in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences, is thrived to cater for the needs and requirements of the academics, professionals, and the interested groups or communities to engage in such studies. Throughout its inception to date, it has been a strong pillar of such studies by supporting the academics of all the state Universities in the country for their Post Graduate Studies. As the only government body that supports the studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, it has financially supported more than 500 academics to pursue their PhD Studies in nationally and internationally recognized Universities. The investment made in favour of the Universities through the support of the NCAS is immeasurable. By doing so, the NCAS accomplishes the objectives already endowed by the Ordinance and made its way towards elevating the status of the NCAS to achieve its goals.
My vision and mission is to maintain the continuous support and uplift its standards by introducing several other opportunities which are already encompassed by the Ordinance. Being the only Academic Institute other than the Universities under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, the NCAS has the granted powers to award Post Graduate Degrees to the qualified academics. Therefore, we are planning to propose the Degree programs covering SLQF guidelines, also maintaining the international standards. This mission is accomplished by our invitation to research scholars from overseas to collaborate with internationally reputed research institutes.
All such strategic elevations are in line with the belief that NCAS will become the meeting place of new thoughts, intellectual discussions, distraction-free opportunity to learn about new frontiers of research and innovation. I am confident that it is a place to sit across from long-term collaborators who we normally do not see face-to-face because they live so far away, and this is a place to think, and a think tank, to brainstorm and anticipate new discoveries. NCAS must forage for forging exciting partnerships, make serendipitous connections where new projects, and new depths are discovered and applied for the benefit of the society by spreading its wings every and elsewhere possible. By doing so I wish we can contribute meaningfully to our community where we belong, taking pride in its unique heritage and innovative strengths. Therefore, I will take each and every step to the best of my knowledge to elevate the status of the NCAS for future academics, researchers and innovators!!!
Professor (Mrs.) Prashanthi Narangoda (PhD)
Director/ NCAS
Chairman/Council of Management of NCAS